89 PhD programmes in Social Work in North America

If you have earned either a master’s or a bachelor’s degree, you are eligible for Walden University’s PhD in Human Services - Mental Health program, with an expedited path available for those who hold a master's degree.

The Graduate School of Social Work at University of Denver is home to one of the nation’s oldest social work PhD programs, but nothing about it is old-fashioned.

Sociology faculty at the University of Pittsburgh are committed to training the next generation of scholars in Social Work, whose research will inform policy and practice addressing society’s most pressing problems.

The Dual-Title PhD in Social Work - Gerontology at Wayne State University addresses the critical need for social work faculty and researchers trained in geriatrics who can promote evidence‐based practices and serve as role models for future generations of social workers specializing in the field.

The PhD in Social Work program at the Memorial University of Newfoundland provides regionally relevant and accessible, advanced, and specialized education in social work.

The University of Manitoba PhD in Social Work focuses on developing skills for research and teaching in the field of social work. Our goal is to advance the fields of social work practice and social policy, striving to promote respect for human rights and dignity, individual worth and wellbeing, diversity, social inclusion and the principles of social justice.

Earn the highest degree in the Social Work profession – the Ph.D. In keeping with the mission of The Catholic University of America, NCSSS prepares doctoral students to teach, research, and lead from a framework of mercy, charity, justice and peace that emanate from the teachings of Jesus Christ, and are expressed in the social and moral doctrine of the Church.

The mission of the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Social and Behavioral Sciences in Public Health program at George Washington University is to educate individuals who are committed to making a difference by solving public health problems using social and behavioral research. 

Established in 1927, the PhD program in the College of Social Work at Ohio State has a long history of graduates contributing to social change through research as faculty in universities across the United States and around the world. The Social Work program is offered by The Ohio State University.

The program offers preparation for research, for the application of sociology in public-service work, for development work in the United States and other countries, and for college teaching in sociology, rural sociology, and related fields. The Development Sociology program is offered by Cornell University.

The Social Work and Social Research PhD program from Portland State University educates the next generation of scholars, researchers, teachers, and leaders in social work and related fields. 

Create your own learning experience through the Human Services General Program at Walden University. Explore topics of interest that align with your personal and professional goals. To round out your coursework, choose any three courses from among the PhD in Human Services degree program’s specialization offerings.

The new Doctor of Social Work program at The University of Alabama is an exciting endeavor for students and faculty alike. 

Building on our unique MSW program that emphasizes the critical analysis of social policy, social work practice and leadership, the Social Work PhD program at McMaster University focuses on social work and social justice.

The purpose of this Social Work program at The University of Alabama is to prepare social work scholars to advance social work knowledge. Coursework focuses on theory, research methods, and critical evaluation of social work policies and practice. In addition to coursework, students work with faculty members in research and/or teaching.  

Social Dimensions of Health (SDH) at University of Victoria is an interdisciplinary program that combines the faculties of Social Sciences, Humanities, Education, and Human and Social Development. 

The Graduate Group in Sociology and Demography (GGSD) at University of California, Berkeley is an interdisciplinary training program in the social sciences designed for students with broad intellectual interests. 

Our rigorous Social Work PhD program at Boston College prepares researchers, scholars, and educators to advance the field of social welfare and social work practice.

UK’s Ph.D. in Social Work program at University of Kentucky is designed to prepare its graduates to be faculty members in social work programs across the country and internationally. 

In this Human Services - Human Services Nonprofit Administration specialization at Walden University, you will study the nature of leadership in human service organizations, including the management of nonprofits.